Filing drawer



Dec. 15, 14942. n. n. wEs'r f Re. 22,234

FILING DRAWER Orig'inal Filed Ag. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2r IIIIIh INVENTOR.

' 'ATTORNEX Reissued Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILING DRAWER Ross R. West, San Francisco, Calif., assigner to M. G. West Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California 9 Claims.

This invention relates to ling drawers and particularly to a compression plate which .is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer, the present invention being an improved Aor modified form of the invention disclosed in my cri-pending application entitled Filing drawer, filed August 22, 1939, Serial No. 291,358, isince matured into Patent No. 2,272,537, dated February 10, 1942.

In the co-pending application referred to, a compressor plate is disclosed which is pivoted to the bottom of the drawer and at the rear end thereof. The compressor plate is Vactuated `by a pair of `sliding bars disposed one in each side lof the drawer by being connected with said bars through means of a cross-bar. These sliding bars, together with 'the pivoted-compressor plate, cause compression of the illes within the drawer due to spring pressure exerted on the sliding bars at all times, but the spring tension is such 'that the files may be readily spread apart for removal or examination of the contents. This structure has proven very satisfactory where the 'filing drawer is kept substantially full, but it requires the use of intermediate follower plates when only partially filled.

The object of the present invention is to 'generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of filing drawers of the character described; and particularly to provide a compressor plate which is adjustable with. relation tov the sliding bars and the bottom of the drawer so that it may assume any desired position intermediate the ends of the drawer to maintain the files in an upright partially compressed position whether the drawer is partially or completely filled with illes.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a filing cabinet drawer, said view being partially broken away and said view also showing the compressor plate;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing a portion of one of the sliding bars in the drawer, the rack bar, the gear engaging same, the cross shaft, the gear housing plate, and the clutching plate, said view showing the housing and clutching plate moved away from the gear so that their construction can be seen;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing 'the several parts referred to in Fig. 2 in their asr sembled position;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portion. of the drawer and the compression plate, said section being 'taken on line IV IV oi Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an end View looking from the rear 'l side of the compression plate, said view showing only a portion of the compression plate and said view also showing the sides of the drawer, the channels formed at the upper edges of the sides, and also showing the sliding bars and the mecha- 'nism carried thereby;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan section taken on line VII VII of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the lower edge of the compressor plate, said view showing only a portion of the compressor plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, A indicates the front panel of a filing drawer, 2 2 the sides, and 3 the bottom thereof. In the bottom proper and extending centrally and longitudinally is a depressed channel with side Walls 4 4 in which are formed uniformly spaced slots 5 terminating in enlarged V--shaped notched ends as indicated at E. The purpose of notches and slots will hereinafter appear.

The upper side edges of the drawer are channeled as indicated at 1 1, and these channels form gui-deways for a pair of sliding bars 8 6 which are connected at the rear ends by a crossbar 9. Disposed vwithin the drawer is a compressor plate or follower board I0 on the lower edge of which is Welded or secured a plate Il having a pair of side lugs I2 I2. The plate H has a width slightly less than the depressed channel and normally extends downwardly into the same. By swinging the plate I0 to a vertical position, the side lugs I2 'I2 will register with the slots 5 5, thereby permitting the plate to be lifted upwardly and out of the depressed channel, and it may then be moved to any position intermediate the ends of the drawer and may again be reinserted in the depressed channel by registering the lugs I2 I2 with 'the 'slots 5 5. When reinserted, a pivotal connection is formed between the compressor plate and the bottom of the drawer, as the compression plate is free to pivot on the lugs |2 I'2 which rest in the V- shaped notches E. The plate is at the same time secured against removal by the shoulders 6a, except when a vertical position is assumed, and it is then removable only by intent, as manual force is require-d to lift and disengage the plate. The compressor plate is actuated by the sliding bars 8 8 and is adjustable with relation to the same.

This is accomplished as follows:

Formed at each end of the compressor plate and extending rearwardly from the same is a flange I4, and formed in each flange is an elongated slot I5 through which extends a shaft I6. Secured on each end 0f the shaft is a gear I1 and formed in each sliding bar is a rack bar I8 upon to actuate the compressor plate I0, means must be provided for locking the gears against rotation, as a fixed relationship between shaft I6 and the sliding bars must be maintained when actuation of the compressor plate is desired. This is accomplished as follows:

Slidably mounted in each sliding bar is a gear housing plate 20. Formed in one end of each plate 2U is an opening 2l and in the opposite end a notch 22. Cooperating withv each housing plate is a clutching plate 23 and formed on each plate 23 are two lugs 24 and 25. The lugs 24 extend through the openings 2| of the housing plates, while the lugs 25 extend through the notches 22, and under normal conditions lugs 25 also extend between the teeth of the gears I1 so as to lock or dog the gears and shaft I6 against rotation with relation to the gear racks I8, thereby retaining shaft I6 and the compressor plate III in a fixed position with relation to the sliding bars. Means are, however, provided for disengaging or withdrawing the lugs 25 from between the teeth of the respective gears I1 when adjustment between the compressor plate and the sliding bars is desired, and this is accomplished as follows:

Mounted on shaft I6 are two tubular sleeves 26, the outer ends of which extend through the clutching plates 23. A swivel connection is made between each sleeve and adjacent clutching plate as shown in Fig. 7, by means of two collars 21 and 28 secured to the sleeve, such a connection being essential to permit partial rotation of the sleeves about shaft I6 as will hereinafter appear. On the inner end of each sleeve 26 and extending upwardly therefrom is a finger grip 29, and extending downwardly from each sleeve is a similal` member in the form of an angularly disposed arm 30, and between the sleeves is mounted acompression spring 3|. This spring normally forces the sleeves 26 outwardly on shaft I6 and thereby maintains the clutching plates in clutching position. On the other hand, if it is desired to disengage the clutching plates, or, in other words, to retract the lugs 25 from between the teeth of the gears I1 when adjustment of the compression` plate is desired, it can be accomplished in two ways:

First, by grasping the compression plate by its upper edge and swinging it to a vertical position and then lifting it upwardly and vertically, lugs I2-I2 are free to clear and pass rup through the slots 5 5. At the same time the inclined arms 30 will be engaged by a member 33 having oppositely inclined cam faces 34--34 and these arms will thus be forced together, thereby pulling the sleeves 26 together and, as they are connected with the respective clutching plates 23, the lugs 25 will be withdrawn from between the teeth of the gears I1 and the compressor plate is free to be moved longitudinally of the drawer to any position desired. Then it is pushed down- Wardlsr to cause the lugs I2--I2 to enter the slots 5-5 and at the same time to release the arms 3U, and when these are released spring 3l will force the sleeves and clutching plates outwardly and the gears will be locked with relation to the rack bars and the sliding bars in which the rack bars are formed.

The second way in which the same operation may be accomplished is to grasp the compression plate with one hand and swing it to vertical position and lift it, then to grasp the finger bars 29 with the lingers of the other hand and press them together to cause release of the clutching plates.

The first method of adjusting the compression plate is obviously the more desirable, as it requires the use of one hand only. In actual practice the drawer may be partially or wholly lled with files. and if the compressor plate is properly adjusted the les will stand in a vertical position and will be partially compressed when the drawer is closed, as compression of the les is obtained by forcing the cross-bar 9 which connects the inner ends of the sliding bars against the inside frame or back of the cabinet, when the drawer is pushed inwardly into closed position; but when the drawer is .open the sliding bars will assume the dotted line position shown at 1a in Fig. 4, and the compressor plate the dotted line position indicated at I0a. In this position compression on theiiles is relieved and they are freely accessible for opening, removal or otherwise. 0n the other hand, when the drawer is closed or pushed rearwardly into the cabinet, bar 9 strikes the inside frame of the cabinet, causing the sliding bars to move back into the channeled tracks 1 of the drawer; At the same time the compressor plate swings about the lugs I2--I2 as a pivot from the dotted line position Illa to the vertical full line position, thereby straightening up the files and placing them under compression again. The sliding bars may be spring actuated as disclosed in my co-pendng application heretofore referred to, in which case the compressor plate will tend to assume a vertical position at all times.

Be that as it may, the structure'here disclosed provides a pivotal support for the bottom or lower edge of the compressor plate at any point between the front and rear end of the drawer, and it provides an adjustable connection between the sliding bars and the compressor plate whereby it is actuated regardless of its position intermediate the ends of the drawer.

It was previously stated that the sleeves must be free to partially rotate about shaft I6, and for that reason the collar connection between the sleeves and the clutching plates was provided as shown in Fig. '7. This is due to the fact that the compressor plate has a swinging movement from the dotted to the vertical position shown in Fig. 4. In so swinging the sleeves are partially rotated about shaft I6 as the :linger grips and the angularly disposed arms are in substantial contact with the rear surface of the compressor plate. Hence if the sleeves were secured to the clutching plates, rotation of the sleeves could not take place nor could the 'compressor plate tilt, but by providing the swivel or collar connection, partial rotation is permitted and the compressor plate is free to swing or tilt.

While this and other features of my invention have been more or less specifically described for purposes of illustration, I wish it understood .that

modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the 4appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and-desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair -of sliding bars mounted one in each side of r`the drawer and adapted `during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a. crossshaft connecting the sliding bars, a connection between said shaft and the compression p-late whereby a tilting movement is transmitted to the compression plate during sliding movement of the bars, means for adjusting the shaft longitudinally of the sliding bars to permit the compression plate to assume any position intermediate the ends of the drawer, and means for forming a pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and the bottom of the drawer in any position of the compression plate intermediate the ends of the drawer.

2. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair of sliding bars mounted one in each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a cross shaft connecting the sliding b-ars, a connection between said shaft and the com.- pression plate whereby a tilting movement is transmitted to the compression plate during sliding movement of the bars, means for adjusting the shaft longitudinally of the sliding lbars to permit the compression plate toassume any position intermediate the ends of the drawer, means for securing the shaft against movement with relation to the sliding bars when adjusted, and means for forming a pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and the bottom of the drawer in any position of the compression plate intermediate the ends of the drawer.

3. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair of sliding bars mounted one in each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a cross shaft connecting the sliding bars, a connection between said shaft and the compression plate whereby a tilting movement is transmitted to the compression plate during sliding movement of the bars, means for adjusting the shaft longitudinally of the sliding bars to permit the compression plate to assume any position intermediate the ends of the drawer, a pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and the bottom of the drawer,

and means for adjusting said connection to assume any position intermediate the ends of the drawer.

4. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair of sliding 'bars mounted one at each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding move-ment to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a cross shaft connecting the sliding' bars, a connect-ion between said shaft and the compression plate whereby a tilting movement is transmitted to the vcompression plate during. sliding movement of the bars, means for adjusting the shaft longitudinally of the sliding bars to permit the compression plate to assume any position intermediate the ends of the drawer, a pair of lugs at the lower edge of the compressor plate and forming a pivotal support therefor, and a plurality of depressions formed longitudinally of the drawer to receive the lugs in any position Eil vof the compression plate intermediate the ends of the drawer.

5. In a fil-ing Acabinet drawer la compression plate, a pai-r 1of slidingbars mounted one at each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding movement tof project 'beyond the rear end of the drawer, `a cross shaft -connecting the sliding bars, 'a gear Ion each end of the shaft, a gear rack on each 'sliding bar with which the corresponding 'gear intermeshes means for locking the gears against rotation with relation to the gear racks to secure the shaft with 'relation to the sliding bars, other means for releasing 'the gears to permit adjustment o-f the shaftlongitudinally of the drawer and the sliding bars, a connection between the shaft and the compression plate whereby a tilting movement is transmittedto the compression plate during sliding movement of the bars, and an adjustable pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and `the bottom of the drawer, whereby the compression plate may be moved longitudinally of the drawer when the position of the shaft is ad,- justed longitudinally of the sliding bars.

6. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair of sliding bars mounted one at each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a cross shaft connecting the sliding bars, a gear on each end of the shaft, a gear rack on each sliding bar with which the corresponding gear intermeshes, a clutching plate at each end of the cross shaft, a lug on each plate and normally projecting inwardly between the teeth of the gears to clutch the gears against rotation with relation to the rack bars, a spring normally maintaining the plates and lugs in clutching position, other means for disengaging the lugs with the teeth of the gears to permit adjustment of the shaft longitudinally of the drawer and sliding bars, a connection `between the shaft and the compression plate whereby a tilting movement is transmitted to the compression plate during sliding movement` of the bars, and an adjustable pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and the bottom of the drawer, whereby the compression plate may be moved longitudinally of the drawer when the position of the shaft is adjusted longitudinally of the sliding bars.

'7. In a filing cabinet drawer a compression plate, a pair o-f sliding bars mounted one at each side of the drawer and adapted during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a cross shaft connecting the sliding bars, a gear on each end of the shaft, a gear rack on each sliding bar with which the corresponding gear intermeshes, a clutching plate at each end of the cross shaft, a lug on each plate and normally projecting inwardly between the teeth of the gears to clutch the gears against rotation with relation to the rack bars, a spring normally maintaining the plates and lugs in clutching position, a connection between the shaft and the compression plate whereby tilting movement is transmitted to the compression plate during sliding movement of the bars, a pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compressor and the bottom of the drawer, said pivotal connection being adjustable longitudinally of the drawer, and said pivotal connection being disengaged by swinging the compressor plate to a vertical position and lifting it away from the bottom, and means actuated by the vertical lifting movement of the compression plate for simultaneously releasing the clutching plates to permit the compression plate to be moved longitudinally of the drawer and with relation to the sliding bars.

8. In a flling cabinet drawer, a pair of sliding bars mounted one at each side of the drawer, and adapted during sliding movement to project beyond the rear end of the drawer, a compression plate mounted in the drawer, la pivotal connection be-tween the upper portion of the compression plate and the sliding bars, said pivotal connection being longitudinally adjustable with relation to the bars, and a longitudinally adjustable pivotal connection between the lower edge of the compression plate and the bottom of the drawer.

9. In a ling cabinet drawer, a. pair of sliding bars mounted one on each side of the drawer, a compression plate mounted in the drawer, a pivotal connection between the upper portion of the compression plate "and the sliding bars, said pivotal connectionsbeing longitudinally adjustable with relation to the bars, said compression plate having a longitudinally adjustable pivotal connection between its lower edge and the bottom of the drawer and lying within the plane of the bottom of the drawer.

ROSS R. WEST. 

